‘Meaningful talks only after Pakistan unveils 26/11 plot’

Ahead of the Foreign Ministers’ meeting in New York this month, India on Thursday said it was for Pakistan to “unveil the conspiracy” behind the Mumbai attacks. “Let me emphasise that it is our considered position that there should be concrete action against those guilty of the Mumbai attack before there can be any meaningful dialogue with Pakistan,” External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna said.

Mr. Krishna, who is scheduled to meet his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly meeting, was addressing the Editors Guild of India here.

On the eve of the ministerial meeting, Foreign Secretaries Nirupama Rao and Salman Bashir will discuss the progress on the investigation of the 26/11 attacks and prosecution of those arrested.

Mr. Krishna said it was in India's interests to normalise relations with Pakistan. But it was for Pakistan to determine the kind of relationship it wanted to have. Any meaningful dialogue with Pakistan could be based only on fulfilment of its commitment, in letter and in spirit, not to allow its territory to be used in any manner for terrorist activities against India.

The Mumbai attack, Mr. Krishna said, was launched from Pakistan and the conspiracy had been hatched there. “Clearly the onus is on Pakistan to unveil the conspiracy. We have sought to assist them in that task by providing vital evidence.”

On China, the Minister said friendly cooperation with the northern neighbour was a key foreign policy priority.

As for border incursions, he reiterated that an established mechanism was in place to deal with such developments.

Both New Delhi and Beijing had agreed that pending resolution of the border issue, peace and tranquillity must be maintained on the Line of Actual Control. India was constantly monitoring the situation, he said and gave the assurance that there could be no lowering of the guard. “Our borders are secure and it serves no purpose to create excessive alarm.”

As for Sri Lanka, India's immediate focus was to see that the process of resettlement and rehabilitation of over 2.7 lakh Internally Displaced Persons in their homes was achieved as early as possible.